Enhanced strength partitioned container

ABSTRACT

An enhanced strength partitioned container containing a plurality of individual compartments, i.e, a crate, formed from mated slotted transverse panels and slotted longitudinal panels. A system of exterior panels surrounds the interlocking panels to form the outside of the partitioned container. Alternatively, an exterior panel with an overlapping section surrounds the interlocking panels, secures to itself, and forms the outside of the partitioned container. Portions of the slotted panels are adhered to and extend over a greater area of the exterior panel(s) to provide additional structural support. A lid and tray may complete the partitioned container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to provisional application 62/096,723filed on Dec. 24, 2014 and is incorporated by reference in its entiretyas if fully recited herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a storagecontainer and assembly with multiple partitions.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to paperboard containers, andmore particularly to enhanced strength partitioned containers. Existingdivider systems are primarily configured for providing internal dividerswithin the box container perimeter. The dividers may be formed ofinterlocking sheets. The interlocking sheets commonly comprise interiordivided cells, and perimeter cells that are open around the perimeter ofthe divider. Alternatively, interlocking divider partitions do notdelineate a complete perimeter cell, but provide for an abbreviatedperimeter cell that functions as an air cell around the perimeter of thedivider.

These perimeter air cells result in a waste of a significant portion ofthe box container volume, and add weight to the divider system that doesnot provide for additional item cells. In addition, heavy items carriedin the interior cells may shift and collapse the perimeter air cells,allowing additional shifting of the contents of the box container.Shifting can cause impact damage or lead to the collapse of a stack ofbox containers.

As box containers are frequently stacked and subjected to exteriorforces during shipment and handling, a high level of structural strengthis desired to withstand stacking and rough handling. Further, many ofthese containers have partition sections that divide the interior of thebox container but provide little to no structural strength.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that alternatives to theinterlocking divider systems known in the art that result in greaterstacking strength and resistance to rough handling would improveefficiency in the shipping and manufacturing industries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

A partitioned container contains a plurality of individual compartments.The partitioned container may include a series of substantially paralleltransverse panels. Each transverse panel having a partitioning sectionand two folding tab sections, said folding tab sections extend from eachside of the partitioning section, respectively, and share a common sideand bottom edge with the partitioning section. The partitioning sectionshave at least one slot extending from the bottom edge of each transversepanel upwardly. Each folding tab section may extend beyond the top edgeof the partition section, thereby defining a separate top edge, and isconfigured to be folded along the side edge shared with the partitioningsection. The partitioned container also includes a series ofsubstantially parallel longitudinal panels. Each longitudinal panel alsohas a partitioning section and two folding tab sections, said foldingtab sections each extending from either side of the partitioningsection, respectively, and share a common side and bottom edge with thepartitioning section. The partitioning sections having at least one slotextending from the top edge of each longitudinal panel downwardly. Eachfolding tab section may extend beyond the top edge of the partitionsection, thereby defining a separate top edge, and is configured to befolded along the side edge shared with the partitioning section.

The transverse panels and the longitudinal panels are perpendicularlydisposed with the transverse panel slots being placed within thelongitudinal panel slots to create a crate of individual compartments.The number of slots in each of the transverse and longitudinal panelsmay be varied depending on the number of interior partitions desired.The partitioned container also has at least one exterior panel.Embodiments of the exterior panel have a top edge, a bottom edge, and apair of side edges. The exterior panels may have a tab and recess at oneside edge and a mating tab and recess on the opposite side edge. Otherembodiments of the exterior panel may have tabs at one edge and matingrecesses corresponding to the tabs on the opposite edge. Still otherembodiments of the exterior panels may have one or more tabs on one sideedge that overlap a portion of the opposite edge when such an exteriorpanel is mated with a corresponding exterior panel to form the outerpanels of a partitioned container assembly. Each panel has at least 1vertical fold line. The exterior panels surround the assembly therebyforming an outside surface of the partitioned container. Each transversepanel folding tab section and each longitudinal panel folding tabsection is secured to the exterior panels and the exterior panel tabsand recesses are mated. When thus secured, the tab sections, which asdescribed previously herein, may extend beyond the top edge of thepartition section. This extended tab portion, being secured to theexterior panels, contributes to the strength of the formed partitioncontainer, particularly in regard to compressive forces applied to thetop and bottom edges of the exterior panels. As the partitionedcontainers may be stacked during use, this contributed strength mayresult in improved performance over partitioned containers withoutextended tab portions. In certain embodiments, the partitioned containermay be completed by adding a lid and a bottom tray to create a partialor complete enclosure of the partitions formed within the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of thepresent invention will be readily apparent from the followingdescriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein likereference numerals across the several views refer to identical orequivalent features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a disclosed partitioned containerassembly;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a transverse panel according to an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a longitudinal panel according to an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an exterior panel according to an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a partitioned container assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the partitioned container of FIG. 1starting to be folded into a substantially flat state;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the partitioned container assembly ofFIG. 6 almost completely folded into a substantially flat state;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an exterior panel according to an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an exterior panel according to an embodiment ofthe invention; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an exterior panel according to an embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

The disclosed partitioned container assembly is useful in shippingindividual component parts in individual compartments so as to preventdamage to the component parts, for example, by parts bumping againsteach other during shipment. The disclosed partitioned container assemblycan be shipped in a relatively flat, folded down configuration and thenunfolded for insertion of component parts. The entire volume of thepartitioned container may be used for storing component parts inasmuchas compartments fill the entire interior volume of the partitionedcontainer. The disclosed partitioned container assembly contains foldedtabs that provide additional structural strength, which is particularlyhelpful when stacking.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, each partitioned container 14 is seen tohave 27 individual compartments for stuffing with the same or differentcomponent parts for shipment. Such number of compartments is by way ofillustration and not limitation.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each partitioned container 14 is formed by aseries of transverse panels, indicated generally at 16 (FIG. 2) andlongitudinal panels, indicated generally at 24 (FIG. 3). The transversepanels each have a partitioning section 11 and a pair of folded tabsections 19 and 21 located at opposite sides of the partitioning section11. The partitioning section 11 further comprises a series of slots, 18a-18 i, extending from the bottom of panel 16 upwardly to about themidpoint of the height thereof. Fold lines, 20 and 22, run along theedge shared by the partitioning section 11 and the folded tab sections19 and 21, from top to bottom of the partitioning section 11 forming theside edges of folded tabs, 19 and 21, respectively.

A longitudinal panel, indicated generally at 24, (FIG. 3) has apartitioning section 23 and folding tab sections 31 and 33 extendingfrom opposite sides of the partitioning section 23. The partitioningsection 23 further comprises a series of downwardly projecting slots, 26a-26 b, extending from the top edge of partitioning section 23 to aboutits midpoint. The number of slots 18 a-18 i and 26 a-26 b could be ingreater or fewer number than that shown in the drawings. Importantly,however, slots 18 a-18 i and 26 a-26 b are configured to cooperate formutual insertion when panel slots 18 a-18 i and 26 a-26 b are placed atsubstantially right angles to each other to form the individualcompartments shown for partitioned container 14. The number ofindividual compartments for each partitioned container also is a matterof choice and can be fewer or greater than that shown in the drawings.

Referring additionally to FIG. 5, panels 16 and 24 are seen in positionforming individual compartments. Surrounding the series of panels andforming the outside of the disclosed partitioned container is a pair ofexterior panels, typified by panel 28 as illustrated in FIG. 4. As isshown, panel 28 has a set of tabs and recesses, 32 a and 32 b, on oneend and a mating set of tabs and recesses, 34 a and 34 b respectively,on the other end. The panel also has a pair of fold lines, 36 a and 36b, running from top to bottom of the panel, the distance therebetweendetermining the lateral dimensions of each partitioned container.

Tabs and recesses of panel 28 may be placed in mating relationship andaffixed to the folding tab section of a transverse panel or longitudinalpanel such as folding tab section 19, such as by adhesive, tape, bands,or other securing mechanism. Depending on the number of compartmentsdesired, a plurality of panel 28's may be required to form the outsideof the partitioned container. In such an embodiment, the number of foldlines for panel 28 will be adjusted accordingly. For example, in anembodiment using four panels to form a partitioned container, each panelmay be formed with a single fold line. The combination of exterior panel28's is configured to surround the entire exterior of the assembly as isillustrated in FIG. 5.

Each transverse and longitudinal panel 16 and 24 may have the folded tabsections therein folded to be adhered to exterior panel 28 by adhesive,tape, or other securing mechanism. The process, then, may be repeatedfor forming all of the compartments and outside of each partitionedcontainer.

The disclosed partitioned containers are configured such that it may befolded substantially flat for shipment. For example, from the place ofmanufacture of a partitioned container to a location where the containeris filled with component parts for storage or shipment. Referring now toFIGS. 6 and 7, a partitioned container 14 may be folded, as seen in FIG.6. Such folding is continued until the partitioned container is flat, asseen in FIG. 7. This flattened configuration may reduce cost as a resultof requiring less space while being transported in an empty state.

Upon reaching a location where the container is to be used, the processshown in FIGS. 6-7 is reversed until the configuration shown in FIG. 5is reached. A lid/base may be placed under each partitioned container toform a base and atop each partitioned container to form a lid. Eachlid/base may be affixed by adhesive, tape, metal slats, or the like forretaining the component parts securely in each partitioned container.

Referring now additionally to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of anexterior panel is illustrated. In this embodiment, a single exteriorpanel 28 may define the exterior of the assembly. The example exteriorpanel illustrated does not contain the tabs and recesses of FIG. 4, butinstead comprises an additional overlap panel 35 and fold lines 36 a-d.The illustrated exterior panel is divided into exterior panel sections39 a-d defined by fold lines 36 a-d. The exterior panel is configuredsuch that it folds along fold lines 36 a-d into a rectangular shape,thereby encompassing the partition assembly, with the overlapping panelextending beyond the assembly such that it may be folded along fold line36 d to overlap a portion of the exterior panel and be secured thereto,such as by adhesive, tape, bands, or other securing mechanism. In amanner similar to that used with the exterior panel shown in FIG. 4, thefolding tabs of a partition section, such as 19, 21, 31, and 32, aresecured to the interior of the exterior panel, such as by adhesive,tape, bands, or other securing mechanism.

Referring to FIG. 9, the exterior panel may further comprise a series oftop panels 37 a-d and a series of bottom panels 38 a-d. Otherembodiments may comprise bottom panels 38 a-d without top panels. Saidpanels extend one from the top and one from the bottom of each sectionof the exterior panel 39 a-d, respectively. For example, top panel 37 aextends from the top edge of exterior section panel 39 a, and bottompanel 38 a extends from the bottom edge of exterior panel section 39 a.Said exterior section panels 39 a-d are further defined by fold linesextending along the edge shared between the top panels 37 a-d and theadjoining exterior panel sections 39 a-d and the bottom panels 38 a-dand the adjoining exterior panel sections 39 a-d. These top and bottompanels, 37 a-d and 38 a-d respectively, are configured such that theymay be folded and secured to one another to form the top and bottom of apartitioned container assembly. In one embodiment, the panels areconfigured such that when folded, they substantially cover the entiretyof the top and bottom of the assembly, respectively. Said panels may besecured to one another, such as by adhesive, tape, bands, or othersecuring mechanism. In an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, these panels may be configured such that when folded theyoverlap. Said panels may be secured to one another by overlapping thepanels in such a way that one panel rests on top of an adjoining paneland below the other adjoining panel. In a manner similar to the exteriorpanels illustrated in FIG. 4, the folding tabs of partition sections,such as 19, 21, 31, and 32, may be secured to the interior of theexterior panel, such as by adhesive, tape, bands, or other securingmechanism.

Another embodiment of an exterior panel is illustrated in FIG. 10. As isshown, an exterior panel may be formed with side panels 2 a-d. In theillustrated embodiment, a series of bottom panels are illustrated 3 a-d.As may be observed from the illustration, these bottom panels may beconfigured such that they may interlock mechanically without the needfor fasteners or adhesives. Further illustrated are fold lines 5 a-cthat may extend along the side panels 2 a-d. As illustrated, the foldlines may be cut such that top panels 1 a-d are formed. The resultingexterior panel may be folded to form a top and bottom over a partitionedsection of an enclosure to prevent loss of damage to components insertedinto the partition sections enclosed by the exterior panels. The use ofthe illustrated exterior panel may result in a partitioned containerwith a bottom panel that may be disassembled such that the partitionedcontainer may be foldable is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 despite having had abottom panel prior to the folding. For example, a bottom panel formedusing the side panel illustrated in FIG. 9 may not allow for disassemblywithout damage to the bottom panels after the bottom panels have beensecured using tape, staples, or adhesive.

Materials of construction for forming the partitioned containers may bea paperboard or corrugated material, such as, for example, cardboard,pasteboard, fiberboard, corrugated plastic sheets, or the like. However,other recyclable material having the necessary strength and rigidity forthe particular application envisioned may be suitable. It will beappreciated that the wall construction thereof, i.e., single-ply,double-ply, or higher, may be varied depending upon the application. Thepartitioned containers and partitioned container assemblies will bedescribed in particular reference to the use of corrugated paperboard;however, such description is illustrative and not a limitation on thepresent disclosure.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, in an embodiment of the invention,the folded tab sections 19, 21, 31, and 33 may be configured to extendalong substantially the entire portion of the exterior panel 28 thatforms a wall of a partition 17 formed by a first longitudinal panel anda second longitudinal panel or a wall of a partition 25 formed by afirst transverse panel and a second transverse panel. In addition,folded tabs may extend along that portion of an exterior panel 28forming a wall of a partition between an exterior panel and alongitudinal panel or a transverse panel. When secured by adhesive,tape, or other securing mechanism, these tabs serve to add strength tothe partition assembly 10.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1 at 17 and 25, the tabs the partitionsections 16 and 24 extend beyond the top edge of a respective partitionsection and may be secured to the exterior panels 28 and 30. Theseextensions serve to add rigidity and strength to the side panel portionof the exterior panels. Depending upon the intended application, theheight of the side panels relative to the longitudinal and transversepanels used to form the partition sections may vary to allow the sidepanels to extend above or below the partition section. For example, inone embodiment, the side panels may be arranged such that their upperand lower edges align with the upper and lower edges in the longitudinaland transverse panels used to form the partition portion of theassembly. In another example embodiment, the side panels may extendabove the partition portion as is illustrated in FIG. 1. Suchembodiments may allow a part contained in a partition to be more easilyaccessible to a worker or machine attempting to remove a part forinstallation or use. Certain embodiments of the invention may configurethe partition portions of the longitudinal and transverse panels to havecutout sections which may also serve to allow a worker or machine tomore easily access a part located within a partition.

Test results show superior performance of the present invention whencompared to prior art designs. In one test a partitioned container madein accordance with the present invention having substantially fullcoverage of the tabs (see for example at 19 in FIG. 5) did not collapseuntil 1337.3 pounds were applied to the top of the container. Thesimilar testing performed on another container of the same design andsame size did not collapse until 1454.9 pounds were applied. The sametest run on a prior art container which was not configured to have fullcoverage of the folds but rather had only about half coverage of thefolds collapsed at just 479.9 pounds applied.

While the partitioned containers have been described with reference tovarious embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope and essence of thedisclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosurewithout departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it isintended that the partitioned container not be limited to the particularembodiments disclosed. All citations referred herein are expresslyincorporated herein by reference.

While certain embodiments of the present invention are described indetail above, the scope of the invention is not to be considered limitedby such disclosure, and modifications are possible without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as evidenced by the following claims:

What is claimed is:
 1. A partitioned container assembly containing aplurality of individual compartments comprising: (a) a subassemblycomprising: (i) at least one substantially parallel transverse panel,each transverse panel further comprising a partitioning section; a pairof folded tab sections extending from each side of the partitioningsection; a pair of fold lines each located on a side edge shared by thepartitioning section and the folded tab sections, said fold linesrunning the length of the shared edge; the partitioning section furthercomprising a series of slots extending upwardly from the bottom edge ofthe partitioning section to about the midpoint of the height thereof;(ii) at least one substantially parallel longitudinal panel, eachlongitudinal panel further comprising a partitioning section; a pair offolded tab sections extending from each side of the partitioningsection; a pair of fold lines each located on a side edge shared by thepartitioning section and the folded tab sections, said fold linesrunning the length of the shared edge; the partitioning section furthercomprising a series of slots extending downwardly from the top edge ofthe partitioning section to about the midpoint of the height thereof;said transverse panels and said longitudinal panels beingperpendicularly disposed with said transverse panel slots being placedwithin said longitudinal panel slots to create a series of individualcompartments; and (b) at least two exterior panels, each exterior panelbeing defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges;the exterior panel having at least 1 vertical fold line; wherein saidfolded tab sections of the transverse panel and the longitudinal panelare configured to extend vertically substantially the distance from thebottom edge of the exterior panel to the top edge of the exterior panel;and wherein said folded tab sections of the transverse panel and thelongitudinal panel are configured to extend horizontally along theexterior panel substantially the distance formed by a said individualcompartment.
 2. The partition container assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid exterior panels comprise at least one tab and at least one recessat one side edge and corresponding mating tabs and recesses on theopposite side edge; said exterior panel tabs and recesses being mated.3. The partitioned container assembly of claim 2, wherein said matedpanel tabs and recesses of said exterior panels are adhesively joined toa transverse panel fold tab.
 4. The partitioned container assembly ofclaim 1, where said exterior panels are configured to surround saidsubassembly to form the outside surface of said assembly.
 5. Thepartitioned container assembly of claim 1, where each folded tab sectionof each transverse panel and each longitudinal panel is adhesivelyjoined to said exterior panel.
 6. The partitioned container assembly ofclaim 1, formed from corrugate stock.
 7. The partitioned containerassembly of claim 1, wherein such transverse and longitudinal panels arearranged to enable the assembly to be folded substantially flat.
 8. Thepartitioned container assembly of claim 1, additionally comprising atleast one cutout section formed along the top edge of a longitudinalpanel.
 9. The partitioned container assembly of claim 1, additionallycomprising a bottom tray.
 10. The partitioned container assembly ofclaim 9, additionally comprising a lid.
 11. A partitioned containerassembly containing a plurality of individual compartments, whichcomprises: (a) a series of substantially parallel transverse panels,each transverse panel further comprising a partitioning section; a pairof folded tab sections extending from each side of the partitioningsection; a pair of fold lines each located on a side edge shared by thepartitioning section and the folded tab sections, said fold linesrunning the length of the shared edge; the partitioning section furthercomprising a series of slots extending upwardly from the bottom edge ofthe partitioning section to about the midpoint of the height thereof.(b) a series of substantially parallel longitudinal panels, eachlongitudinal panel further comprising a partitioning section; a pair offolded tab sections extending from each side of the partitioningsection; a pair of fold lines each located on a side edge shared by thepartitioning section and the folded tab sections, said fold linesrunning the length of the shared edge; the partitioning section furthercomprising a series of slots extending downwardly from the top edge ofthe partitioning section to about the midpoint of the height thereof;said transverse panels and said longitudinal panels beingperpendicularly disposed with said transverse panel slots being placedwithin said longitudinal panel slots to create a series of individualcompartments; and (c) an exterior panel comprising at least four sidepanel sections defined by fold lines extending vertically along theexterior panels; four bottom panels, each extending downwardly from abottom edge of the adjoining side panel section, further defined by afold line extending horizontally along the edge shared between theadjoining side section and bottom panel; an overlapping panel extendingfrom, and in line with, the final side panel section, defined by a foldline extending vertically along the side edge shared between theoverlapping panel and the adjoining side panel section; wherein saidfolded tab sections of the transverse panel are configured to extendvertically substantially the distance from the bottom edge of theexterior panel to the top edge of the exterior panel; and wherein saidfolded tab sections of the transverse panels are configured to extendhorizontally along the exterior panel substantially the distance formedby a said individual compartment.
 12. The partitioned container assemblyof claim 11, wherein opposing panels of said bottom panels areconfigured to cover at least one half of the bottom of the assembly. 13.The partitioned container of claim 11, additionally comprising a lid.14. The partitioned container assembly of claim 11, additionallycomprising four upper panels, each extending upwardly from an upper edgeof an adjoining side panel section, further defined by a fold lineextending horizontally along the edge shared between the adjoining sidesection and the upper section.
 15. The partitioned container of claim11, wherein said panel tabs are adhesively joined to an exterior panel.16. The partitioned container of claim 11, wherein the overlapping panelis configured to overlap and be secured to the exterior panel.
 17. Thepartitioned container of claim 11, wherein such transverse andlongitudinal panels are arranged to enable the assembly to be foldedsubstantially flat.
 18. The partitioned container assembly of claim 11,formed from corrugated stock.
 19. The partitioned container assembly ofclaim 11, wherein said bottom panels are configured to mechanicallyinterlock such that they form a cover over said compartments formed bysaid transverse and longitudinal panels.
 20. A partitioned containerassembly containing a plurality of individual compartments comprising:(a) a subassembly comprising: (i) at least one substantially paralleltransverse panel formed from corrugated stock, each transverse panelfurther comprising a partitioning section; a pair of folded tab sectionsextending from each side of the partitioning section; a pair of foldlines each located on a side edge shared by the partitioning section andthe folded tab sections, said fold lines running the length of theshared edge; the partitioning section further comprising a series ofslots extending upwardly from the bottom edge of the partitioningsection to about the midpoint of the height thereof; (ii) at least onesubstantially parallel longitudinal panel formed from corrugated stock,each longitudinal panel further comprising a partitioning section; apair of folded tab sections extending from each side of the partitioningsection; a pair of fold lines each located on a side edge shared by thepartitioning section and the folded tab sections, said fold linesrunning the length of the shared edge; the partitioning section furthercomprising a series of slots extending downwardly from the top edge ofthe partitioning section to about the midpoint of the height thereof;said transverse panels and said longitudinal panels beingperpendicularly disposed with said transverse panel slots being placedwithin said longitudinal panel slots to create a series of individualcompartments; and (b) at least two exterior panels formed fromcorrugated stock and configured to surround said subassembly, eachexterior panel being defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair ofside edges; the exterior panel having at least 1 vertical fold line;wherein said folded tab sections of the transverse panel and thelongitudinal panel are configured to extend vertically substantially thedistance from the bottom edge of the exterior panel to the top edge ofthe exterior panel; wherein said folded tab sections of the transversepanel and the longitudinal panel are configured to extend horizontallyalong the exterior panel substantially the distance formed by a saidindividual compartment; wherein said folded tab sections are adhesivelyjoined to at least one of said exterior panels; and wherein saidtransverse and longitudinal panels are arranged to enable said assemblyto be folded substantially flat.